Switzerland

Novartis and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) have launched a patient trial for KAF156, a next-generation antimalarial compound with the potential to treat drug-resistant strains of the malaria parasite. The trial will test the efficacy of KAF156 in combination with a new, improved formulation of the existing antimalarial lumefantrine. The first trial center is operational in Mali and will be followed by sixteen additional centers across a total of nine countries in Africa and Asia over the next few months.

Swiss Life on Wednesday posted a larger-than-expected rise in half-year profit despite trimming back business in its core life insurance operations. Insurer Group reported that its first-half net profit increased 5% from last year to 524 million Swiss francs.

Swiss Life said net profit rose 5 percent to 524 million Swiss francs ($538.8 million), ahead of expectations for 514 million francs in a Reuters poll of eight analysts.

Zurich Insurance posted a 21 percent rise in second-quarter net earnings as the group made strides in enacting a turnaround plan set out last year.
The Swiss insurer’s net profit for April through June rose to $896 million, beating even the highest estimate in Reuters poll of analysts that on average expected $790 million.

Switzerland found India’s data security and confidentiality laws “adequate” for entering into an automatic exchange of information pact. The pact will open a continuous access to details about alleged black money hoarders in once-all-secret Swiss banks.

In a notification and fact sheet published in its official gazette for introduction of “automatic exchange of information relating to financial accounts with India”, the Swiss government also cited decisions by other financial centres like Liechtenstein and Bahamas to enter into similar pacts.

Switzerland rankek first among the world’s top innovation leaders, according to Innovation Indicator 2017, the annul research which analyzed the innovative strength of 35 national economies on behalf of acatech-the German National Academy of Science and Engineering-and BDI-the Federation of German Industries.

After 10 weeks of construction, Switzerland finally opened what local authorities have been calling the "world’s longest suspension bridge." Named Europabrücke, or the Europe Bridge, this narrow pedestrian bridge hovers over the Grabengufer ravine, near Zermatt.

Hanging 278 feet (84.73 meters) in the air, you might want to hold someone’s hand for a little extra courage — but that won’t be possible. Only measuring 25.6 inches (65 centimeters) wide, the bridge is only large enough to allow for a single file line along its 1,620 feet length from end to end.

Swiss consumer confidence strengthened in July, survey results from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or SECO, showed Wednesday.

The consumer confidence index rose to -3 in July from -8 in April. The score came in line with expectations. A similar high score was last posted in January 2017 and was the highest since July 2014.

Swiss dairy group Emmi is selling its 24% stake in Italian cheese specialist Venchiaredo to focus on markets and sectors with "growth potential".

Emmi, which acquired the holding in 2010, is looking to focus its Italian business on desserts, cheese exports from Switzerland and its 25% stake in cheese trader Ambrosi, according to a statement.